It stings a little less now, knowing that the team we lost went on to win it all. It still sucks losing so early in the playoffs, but let's face it, we were very worn and tired from three straight finals trips, and the Dallas Mavericks put together one of the best shooting performances in playoffs history. There have not been to many teams that have won championships by playing zone on defense, and shooting as many threes as they did. But give them credit, they executed their game plan as good as anybody, finsihed games better than anyone else, shot better than anyone else, and kept coming up with ways to win ball games. They kind of remind of the the 94 HOuston Rockets team. A team that had really only one super star, but a bunch solid role players around that star that complimented him perfectly. We also might want to take a page out of their playbook, and play a little zone ourselves against the Heat if we see them in the finals next year.

Anyways, hats off to the Mavs, they earned it this year, and played some dang good basketball, it just feels better knowing we didn't get wasted by a scrub team, and that the team that beat us was indeed the best team in the playoffs this year. But don't get to comfortable, because we will be gunning for you next year.

As always, I'm here as the Debbie Downer. We were swept, and it sucks to know that every other team the Mavericks played (including Portland) won at least one game. Portland actually ripped out two wins in that series.

It's possible that every other West team, besides the Hornets, would've toppled us, including the Grizz. Miami, Boston, Chicago...we would've lost to all of them in the Finals.

It's crazy to see just how similar our franchise (most recently) is to the late 80's/early 90's Detroit Pistons, also.

Of course, Detroit didn't fare well in the 90's, and I doubt we go that long without another championship...but still, it's funny to see how it all turned out like that.

We have work to do. I'm not saying we have to rebuild, but...okay, we need to find a little athleticism (starters or bench), fix our PG situation immediately, and make sure we have legitimate backup bigs. Player-wise, Bynum is going to have knee injuries for the rest of his career, so he has to go (hoping that's why we are extending him), and before Gasol turns into Troy Murphy, we have to let him go as well. If it takes rebuilding, we need it.

I think the Lakers need to tweak the roster. But, I wouldn't say exactly how they lost in the playoffs is a factor in how much they need to tweak. It's all about getting better in what the team needs to get better in. Most obvious example, the Mavs lost in the first round to a team that got swept in the 2nd round last season. All they did was add Chandler, and even lost Butler and Roddy B in the process.

I think the Lakers need to tweak the roster. But, I wouldn't say exactly how they lost in the playoffs is a factor in how much they need to tweak. It's all about getting better in what the team needs to get better in. Most obvious example, the Mavs lost in the first round to a team that got swept in the 2nd round last season. All they did was add Chandler, and even lost Butler and Roddy B in the process.

That's true...it's not about the playoffs. We had problems from the start of the season. We've had them for a while, actually, but Kobe's play made up for them (ex. Fisher not being able to guard anyone).

Now that Kobe is starting to show a lot of wear and tear on those knees, it's time we do our best to preserve him a bit. The limited minutes were fine, but the problem with that was that the expectations were far greater when he did come into the game, and the team relied on him far too much in, what, a half a quarter less? Bryant would come in at the eight-minute mark in the fourth, after the Lakers blew a lead, and would have to carry the team.

The Mavs added Chandler, and it proved to be a major piece because he's a defensive anchor. If you look back at Dallas' defensive struggles over the years, you'll notice that they never had a true defensive anchor. Diop, Dampier...those guys aren't going to impact the game as much as Chandler, and when Dallas added one, it gave their defensive specialists another "tool" to use. Kidd, Marion...those guys, like Shane Battier, are high-IQ defenders that use angles to lure the opposition into help defense, and it works beautifully (ask LeBron).

Many wondered why Phoenix struggled to defend, despite having Raja Bell and Shawn Marion. They didn't have an anchor, and their PG was terrible on the defensive end.

A great example of this working for us was when Bynum started playing very good defense, basically as our defensive anchor. We went on our 17-1 run. The collapse was basically due to a couple of our guys (I don't even need to name them) not playing up to par, and we just didn't have the youth and, well, talent, to make up for that. Tired legs, increased roles, those killed our chances against stronger teams down the stretch.

So...in a similar fashion, yes, we can improve greatly by adding a single player. He would be a point guard that can defend very well, throw a post entry pass, and actually knock down open shots. He doesn't have to be a Derrick Rose. We don't need someone that can score 30 a night...just a good starting point that isn't exceptional at one thing, but has a lot to offer, that can fill a role, and that has the legs and stamina to keep up with the likes of CP3 and Rose for at least 35 minutes a night.

I'm really not sure what to expect from Jim Buss, so I'll leave it at that. I just hope he notices that most of the borderline contenders from last season ended up improving, and now there are a handful that wouldn't mind playing us in the postseason, and that's a problem we can only solve by getting dangerous once again.

does that ease me disgust for LA early exit? Umm hell No but Im glad MIA didnt win so Ill take it. But either way Kobe not ready for this current Title window to completely close, so in the Words of Bart Scott = "Cant Wait" until next season.